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Type: 
Journal
Description: 
Among the medical applications of nanoparticles, their usage as photosensitizer (PS) carriers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted increasing attention. In the present study we explored the morphological and photophysical properties of core–shell PMMA nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) electrostatically post-loaded with the synthetic, water soluble 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulphonatophenyl)-porphyrin (TPPS4). pH response and singlet oxygen analyses of differently loaded samples proved the high capability of the PMMA-NPs to shield the PS from the environment, while retaining the PS singlet oxygen production capability. Preliminary in vitro imaging and phototoxicity experiments on HepG2 cells demonstrated the efficacy of the system to trigger photoinduced cell death in the culture.
Publisher: 
Royal Society of Chemistry
Publication date: 
1 Jan 2013
Authors: 

Greta Varchi, Valentina Benfenati, Assunta Pistone, Marco Ballestri, Giovanna Sotgiu, Andrea Guerrini, Paolo Dambruoso, Andrea Liscio, Barbara Ventura

Biblio References: 
Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Pages: 760-769
Origin: 
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences